Bachelor of Science in
Meteorology
The B.S. in Meteorology prepares students for careers with the National Weather Service, the U.S. military, the private sector, airlines and in broadcasting.
About the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology
Embry-Riddle's Bachelor of Science in Meteorology prepares students for impactful roles in the National Weather Service, the U.S. military, commercial operations, aviation companies and broadcasting. Students can also pursue advanced studies in atmospheric sciences and complement their studies with certifications or operations-focused minors covering various topics.
Meteorology graduates depart with a deep understanding of weather analysis, data collection, forecasting and much more. Our degree program meets the guidelines set by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), National Weather Service and U.S. Air Force, ensuring our graduates have the professional skills necessary for immediate productivity.
Why You Should Study this Degree
Meteorology focuses on weather patterns, conditions and impacts in the Earth's atmosphere. A degree focused on atmospheric sciences may be for you if you:
- Have an interest in severe weather events.
- Like monitoring weather patterns.
- Study climate change impacts.
- Enjoy monitoring air quality.
Student Learning Outcomes
Weather forecasting and analysis opportunities you will have while pursuing a weather degree:
- Analyze meteorological and climatological data using relevant statistical methods and tools.
- Apply numerical methods, guidance and manual techniques to predict the future state of the atmosphere.
- Demonstrate integrated understanding of the linked Earth–atmosphere–ocean system.
- Evaluate atmospheric processes, features and phenomena across many spatial scales by utilizing diagnostic, prognostic and technological tools.
- Investigate problems in the atmospheric sciences, analyze data and create relevant visualizations using one or more computer programming languages.
Meteorology Career Opportunities
Careers and Employers
Embry-Riddle Meteorology graduates are set to enter the workforce in roles such as:
- National Weather Service Meteorologist
- Air Force Weather Officer
- Broadcast Meteorologist
- Environmental Scientist
- Hydrologist
- Naval METOC Officer
- Private Sector Meteorologist
- Research Scientist
Meteorology degree graduates tend to pursue higher education or enter the industry with organizations including:
- Local Television Stations
- National Weather Service
- Southwest Airlines
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Navy
Meteorology Salary Information
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology tend to receive competitive salaries, with an average income of $109,801 annually, as of 2024.
DETAILS
About Meteorology at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
Embry-Riddle is one of the few universities in the U.S. that offers meteorology coursework approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in its airline dispatcher program. Students can also complement their meteorology major with operations-focused minors to gain a competitive edge.
Throughout the program, students will explore and research various atmospheric challenges such as climate change and tornadoes in a world-class meteorology lab. The lab is equipped with a full broadcast studio, including the same professional graphics-generation system used in local television stations nationwide.
The meteorology degree meets all American Meteorological Society guidelines, as all U.S. Office of Personnel Management (e.g., National Weather Service) Qualification Standards for a meteorologist.
Meteorology Information
- Credits: 120
- Online or In-Person: In-Person
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Students will:
- Apply equations that govern physical atmospheric processes and responses to explain fundamental principles and behaviors of the atmosphere across spatial and temporal scale.
- Demonstrate integrated understanding of the linked Earth–atmosphere–ocean system.
- Investigate problems in the atmospheric sciences, analyze data, and create relevant visualizations using one or more computer programming languages.
- Evaluate atmospheric processes, features, and phenomena across a multitude of spatial scales by utilizing diagnostic, prognostic, and technological tools such as surface observations (including METARs and TAFs), satellite data, upper air data, radar data, thermodynamic soundings, numerical weather model output, etc.
- Apply numerical methods, guidance, and manual techniques to predict the future state of the atmosphere.
- Analyze meteorological and climatological data using relevant statistical methods and tools.
- Effectively communicate scientific information and its uncertainties in oral, written, and visual form while adhering to the principles of proper ethical behavior within the atmospheric sciences.
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours and can typically be attained in eight semesters. All students entering the Meteorology program must take a math placement test or show suitable advanced placement. Because many courses have prerequisites or co-requisites, students should prepare to begin the required calculus sequence and physics sequence as soon as they are eligible. All students must complete a capstone course (WX 482) during their senior year. The student must meet all requirements in the five program areas to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. These include: General Education, Program Support, Meteorology Core, Specified Electives and Open Electives.
| General Education | 38 | |
| Program Support | 14 | |
| Meteorology Core | 48 | |
| Specified Electives | 6 | |
| Open Electives | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
General Education Requirements
For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Guidelines please see the General Education section of the catalog.
| Communication Theory and Skills (COM 221 recommended) | 9 | |
| Lower-Level Humanities | 3 | |
| Lower-Level Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Lower or Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Computer Science/Information Technology (CS 118 recommended) | 3 | |
| Mathematics (MA 241 and MA 242 recommended) | 8 | |
| Physical and Life Sciences (PS 150 and PS 160 recommended) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Program Support Requirements
Program support courses are intended to provide foundational concepts to enhance college success or to prepare students for advanced meteorology courses.
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 113L | Introductory Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
Meteorology Core Requirements
| GEO 215 | Introduction to Geoscience | 3 |
| WX 201 | Survey of Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 272 | Meteorological Instruments and Data Analysis | 3 |
| WX 325 | General Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 327 | Operational Analysis and Forecasting | 3 |
| WX 367 | Thermodynamic Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 368 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 374 | Dynamic Meteorology I | 3 |
| WX 375 | Dynamic Meteorology II | 3 |
| WX 378 | Synoptic Analysis | 3 |
| WX 381 | Climate Dynamics | 3 |
| WX 422 | Meteorological Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| WX 462 | Numerical Weather Prediction | 3 |
| WX 466 | Advanced Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting | 3 |
| WX 478 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 482 | Research Methods in Meteorology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Specified Electives
| Choose one Upper Level Specified Elective | 3 | |
CIV 417 | Air Pollution | |
GEO 310 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | |
WX 301 | Aviation Weather | |
WX 305 | Weather Support Operations | |
WX 340 | Severe Weather Field Forecasting | |
WX 360 | Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology | |
WX 361 | Global Climate Change | |
WX 365 | Satellite and Radar Weather Interpretation | |
WX 380 | Advanced Broadcast Meteorology | |
WX 399 | Special Topics in Applied Meteorology | |
WX 410 | Weather for Commercial Air Transport | |
WX 475 | Video Production | |
WX 499 | Special Topics in Applied Meteorology | |
| Choose one Lower Level or Upper Level Specified Elective | 3 | |
CIV 417 | Air Pollution | |
GEO 210 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
GEO 310 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | |
WX 261 | Applied Climatology | |
WX 280 | Introduction to Broadcast Meteorology | |
WX 299 | Special Topics in Applied Meteorology | |
WX 301 | Aviation Weather | |
WX 305 | Weather Support Operations | |
WX 340 | Severe Weather Field Forecasting | |
WX 360 | Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology | |
WX 361 | Global Climate Change | |
WX 365 | Satellite and Radar Weather Interpretation | |
WX 380 | Advanced Broadcast Meteorology | |
WX 399 | Special Topics in Applied Meteorology | |
WX 410 | Weather for Commercial Air Transport | |
WX 475 | Video Production | |
WX 499 | Special Topics in Applied Meteorology | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Specified Electives allow the student more breadth in the atmospheric and geosciences.
Open Electives
| Open Electives | 14 | |
Open Electives allow the student, with the guidance of an academic advisor, to select from a wide range of possible courses, which would help prepare for their individual career path. Suggested electives include additional WX courses, AS courses, BA courses, CS courses, COM courses, MA courses, and PS courses. Students will select at least 14 credits of open electives. Students seeking graduate school in meteorology or atmospheric science should consider a minor in mathematics (applied or computational) or computer science. Students seeking to become a broadcast meteorologist should consider a minor in Communication and Broadcast Media.
Total Degree Credits
| Total Degree Credits | 120 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
Students should be aware that several courses in each academic year may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites. Please check the course descriptions at the back of this catalog before registering for classes to ensure requisite sequencing.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| WX 201 | Survey of Meteorology | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| MA 143 | Precalculus Essentials | 3 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
| HU 14X Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| WX Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| CS 118 | Fundamentals of Computer Programming | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Year Two | ||
| MA 242 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II | 4 |
| PS 150 | Physics for Engineers I | 3 |
| SS Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PS 113L | Introductory Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| WX 325 | General Meteorology | 3 |
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| WX 367 | Thermodynamic Meteorology ** | 3 |
| WX 272 | Meteorological Instruments and Data Analysis ** | 3 |
| GEO 215 | Introduction to Geoscience | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| WX 374 | Dynamic Meteorology I * | 3 |
| WX 368 | Physical Meteorology * | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| WX 327 | Operational Analysis and Forecasting * | 3 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| WX 375 | Dynamic Meteorology II ** | 3 |
| WX 378 | Synoptic Analysis ** | 3 |
| WX Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| HU/SS Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 31.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| WX 422 | Meteorological Statistics and Data Analysis * | 3 |
| WX 462 | Numerical Weather Prediction * | 3 |
| WX 466 | Advanced Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting * | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| HU/SS Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| WX 381 | Climate Dynamics ** | 3 |
| WX 482 | Research Methods in Meteorology ** | 3 |
| WX 478 | Mesoscale Meteorology ** | 3 |
| Open Elective | 5 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 29.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 120.0 | |
- *
Offered in the Fall semester only.
- **
Offered in the Spring semester only.
Suggested Plan of Study
Students should be aware that several courses in each academic year may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites. Please check the course descriptions at the back of this catalog before registering for classes to ensure requisite sequencing.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| WX 201 | Survey of Meteorology | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 150 | Physics for Engineers I | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II | 4 |
| HU 140X Elective | 3 | |
| WX Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| CS 118 | Fundamentals of Computer Programming | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 31.0 | |
| Year Two | ||
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| SS Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PS 113L | Introductory Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| WX 325 | General Meteorology * | 3 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| WX 367 | Thermodynamic Meteorology ** | 3 |
| WX 272 | Meteorological Instruments and Data Analysis ** | 3 |
| GEO 215 | Introduction to Geoscience | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| WX 374 | Dynamic Meteorology I * | 3 |
| WX 368 | Physical Meteorology * | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| WX 327 | Operational Analysis and Forecasting * | 3 |
| HU/SS Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| WX 375 | Dynamic Meteorology II ** | 3 |
| WX 378 | Synoptic Analysis ** | 3 |
| WX Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 6 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| WX 422 | Meteorological Statistics and Data Analysis * | 3 |
| WX 462 | Numerical Weather Prediction * | 3 |
| WX 466 | Advanced Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting * | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| HU/SS Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| WX 381 | Climate Dynamics ** | 3 |
| WX 478 | Mesoscale Meteorology ** | 3 |
| WX 482 | Research Methods in Meteorology ** | 3 |
| Open Elective | 5 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 29.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 120.0 | |
- *
Offered in the Fall semester only.
- **
Offered in the Spring semester only.
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